Saint George’s day – Spain

On April 23rd, book and flower stalls are set up along the streets to celebrate the legend of Saint George in Barcelona. It is said that he saved a village and a princess by killing a dragon. Once victorious, the knight realized that the blood grew a rose that he offered to the princess. Thus, it is no surprise that people celebrate the day of their patron saint -and what is thought to be the Catalan Valentine´s Day- with a special tradition: offering roses or books to their beloved, friends, colleagues and family! Roses also adorn the facades of the extraordinary Casa Batlló by Antoni Gaudí that pays homage to Saint George. Both romantic and extremely joyful, this unique day will appeal not only to the dreamers but also to the generous hearts who love to please their loved ones and all the bookworms who will find the the latest publications and see well-known artists signing copies of their books.

Japan cherry blossom – Japan

Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) and even Yozakura (cherry blossom night viewing) are both inescapable when enjoying the japanese landscapes. Indeed, these blooming trees exemplify perfectly the traditional beauty of this country and areto be enjoyed all over the country (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and so on). Amongst them, visitors enjoy the calm and peaceful atmosphere that goes along this magical and ephemeral natural event. Several cities organize special events to celebrate it. For example, the Miyako Odori in Kyoto remains one of the most incredible traditional shows in the world with its dances, songs and theater productions.

Keukenhof Flower Exhibition – the Netherlands

From March to May, Keukenhof provides a unique backdrop for its 7 million spring-flowering bulbs which are planted in autumn to bloom in spring. Its flower park of 32 hectares of flowers gathers a variety of about 800 different tulips. Each year, it attracts more than a million visitors eager to discover huge colourful fields decorated with sculptures and other works of art as well as a traditional Dutch windmill. Keukenhof is one the the biggest gardens in Europe and celebrates Spring with numerous exhibitions, costumes, dances, a street organ, Dutch musicians and choirs playing music or boat trips through the flower bulb fields.

Battle of Flowers – All around the world

Battle of Flowers are organized all over the world from Valencia in Spain to Ventimiglia in Italy, Jersey in the Channel Island or Saumur, Firminy, Luchon, Nice and Selestat in France. These festivals generally consist of music, food, funfairs, dancers and beautifully decorated parades of flower floats enchanting the crowds along the street. And once the gorgeous floats have made a couple of rounds around the route, the battle traditionally starts using flowers as ammunition!

Flower Festival – Madeira

Thanks to its extraordinarily pleasant climate, flower species from all over the world bloom in Madeira, the “island of flowers”. During the Flower Festival -just after Easter, in May- the population pays tribute to Spring and the abundance of flowers. It is a very cultural event where performances of folk groups as well as concerts, exhibitions and the flavour market fill the streets with life. Splendid floats ‘drowning in flowers’ and bright-coloured costumes bring joy but its most famous features are probably its “Wall of Hope” -a beautiful flower mural decorated by children- and its flower carpets and sculptures displayed on the streets.

Related articles:

16 Flowers that look like animals or humans

Restful sleep: Discover 10 purifying and calming house plants

Where are the top ten greenest cities in the world?

The post 5 colourful events celebrated with flowers appeared first on Thewonderlist.

10/ Eagle

In 1965, a royal eagle named Goldie managed to escape from London Zoo.  During its 12 day escape, the bird became a nation “celebrity“.  The zoo received many calls and letters from people around the country giving employees advice on how to capture the eagle.

After numerous capture attempts, the second zookeeper managed to successfully catch the bird by luring it with a dead rabbit attached to a rope.  Once Goldie appeared the zookeeper approached the bird gently and they caught it with his bare hands!

During its time on the run, the eagle only attacked a duck in the garden of the American Ambassador in the UK and two terriers.  Not long after the bird managed to escape for a second time however this time he was on the loose for only four days.

9/ Takin

Takins are an Asian animals generally found in large mountain ranges at altitudes of at least 1500 m.  As a result of over hunting, these animals are becoming increasingly few and far between in the wild.

A takin weighing 363 kg managed to escape from a zoo in 2018.   One morning while a vet had come to do a routine inspection, the animal started to charge repeatedly at the enclosure until it gave way. 

While it escaped, the animal injured two employees (although not severely) and was on the run for an hour before it was sedated and returned to its enclosure.

8/ Python

This situation didn’t finish as well as the two previous scenarios mentioned above.  In 2013 a python managed to get loose from a Canadian animal farm.  The snake, which measured more than four metres, sneaked into the ventilation system of the house of the animal farm owner and entered into the child’s bedroom.  Two children were staying at the house as they were having a friends sleepover.

It wasn’t until the following morning that the dad, and owner of the animal farm, entered the bedroom to find the two children dead.  They had both been strangled by the python.

7/ Crocodiles

In 2017 around a dozen crocodiles managed to escape from a Thailand zoo during heavy flooding.  How did they managed to get loose?  After all they are pretty slow creatures and aren’t very discrete.  However the heavy rainfall and flooding came to their aide.

While locals were trying to protect themselves from the flooding they were also faced with the threat of a dozen escaped crocodiles…

In summery, there were 18 deaths which doesn’t include those lost due to the heavy flooding.

The post On the run… 10 dangerous animals which escaped from the zoo! appeared first on Thewonderlist.

Some people prefer elaborate celebrations while others like to keep things simple.  That being said, many couples are choosing to spend their special day on a sandy tropical beaches or historic European cities.  If you have always been dreaming of a unique wedding, perhaps one of the following 10 destinations will catch you eye!  They will surely give you a day to remember!

1/ Charles bridge in Prague, Czech Republic

Charles Bridge in Prague is one of the oldest bridges in Europe and is the emblem of the city.  This place attracts many people from tourists, musicians, artists and of course lovers!  Surrounded by a beautiful cityscape with the famous Prague castle and th Vltava river in the background,  your special day will be one to remember!

2/ Ao Nang Beach in Krabi, Thailand

One of the most popular destinations in Thailand, this beautiful beach is located near to Phuket and the Phi Phi islands. This small costal village is the capital of the Krabi province.  Surrounded by rocks and rich vegetation, Ao Nang beach is a small, romantic paradise!  It is the dream wedding your have always been waiting for!

3/ Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, UK

Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxford-shire is a majestic country a manor.  The main residence of the the Dukes of Marlborough will make your wedding feel like you have stepped into a period drama full of class and tradition!

4/ Santorini, Greece

Santotini is considered as one of the most beautiful islands in the world.  Its picturesque houses with blue roofs are a perfect natural background for your dream wedding.  You will also be treated with amazing cuisine, lovely art galleries, excellent wine and an animated nightlife!

5/ Tahiti, French Polynesia

French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean has has beautiful snady beaches.  With breathtaking natural features from coral reefs to volcanic mountains, Tahiti is a tropical paradise which offers visitors unique places to visit.  This incredible island could be the perfect location for your special day!

The post Dream Wedding: 10 romantic destinations to tie the knot appeared first on Thewonderlist.

Spring has sprung! This season is filled with vibrant colour and delightful smells. City streets and countryside landscapes are transformed into an Impressionist artist’s masterpieces. It is the perfect time to wander city streets soaking in the scents and colours above you. Here are 15 colourful streets that will immerse you in the magic of spring, filled with glorious smells and colours.

1/ Flower-filled streets of Grafton, Australia

A tree archway adorned with purple flowers when you can take refuge.

2/ Stockholm, Sweden

In the Swedish capital, cherry blossom adds a fairy tale feel to city-dwellers’ daily life.

3/ Taiwan

A road lined with perfectly aligned trees to delight passersby, regardless who they are…

4/ Valence, Spain

A colourful archway takes over the roads of Valence, spreading the fragrant smell of holidays!

5/ Cullinan, South Africa

We already smell the delicate smells of these entangled wisteria trees!

6/ Molyvos, Lesbos, Greece

A giant wisteria tree takes over the flower-filled streets of Lesbos in Greece, letting locals and visitors alike shelter from the sun under a fragrant parasol.

7/ Positano, Italy

An immense pergola shelters visitors to this Italian city from the burning sun.

8/ Colourful streets of Spello, Italy

In the Italian city of Spello you can stumble across flower filled streets to your great delight.

The post Spring in the city: 15 of the most colourful streets in the world appeared first on Thewonderlist.

It is important to have a few techniques up your sleeve if you want to protect yourself during an animal attack, whether it is a defensive, territorial or a predator attack.  Bears and sharks, due to their size, stature and behaviour always seem to be the most dangerous animal that you wouldn’t want to come across in the wild.  However sharks and bears don’t kill as many humans in attacks in comparison to other wild animals.  In fact they are not even in the top ten.

The list of the most dangerous animals for humans might surprise you as bears and sharks are not as dangerous as you might think. In fact they are less dangerous in terms of moralities caused by attack than lions, wolves, snakes and even elephants.  However it is  always good to know how to react in front of these forces of nature.  here are 12 techniques that you should adopt if you are attacked by a wild animal.

1/ Snake attacks: Stamp your feet

Although the majority of snakes are not poisonous, some snake bites can be fatal.  In about 80% of cases, snake bites happen when trying to capture the reptile or if it feels it is being attacked.  If you notice that a snake is following you, you should stamp your feet on the ground.  The sonar waves should send it packing.  If you have been bitten don’t try and suck the venom from your wound.  Instead you should run clear water over the wound and out pressure on the bite so that it stops bleeding.  Don’t forget to call the emergency services as well!

2/ Bee attack: Wear white clothes in the undergrowth

We can often forget that bees are wild animals even those that are looked after by bee keeper. These small, striped workers defend their hives and their queen by extension.  This is why bees can easily try to attack you even if you are just passing their hive.  Black colours attracts bees so instead you should wear light coloured clothing so as the bees don’t try to follow you.  If you are pursued by  swarm of bees you should try and hide yourself in a shaded place.  Lack of  light can confused the insects and they and then start to lose their sense of direction.

3/ Crocodile attack: Run in zigzags

Crocodile jaws are one of the most powerful in the animal kingdom! This is why it is difficult to escape if you get caught.  that being said you can still try and hit the crocodile hard in the eye or the throat to knock them off balance.  These are their most sensitive areas.  If you are trying to escape its clutches you should try and make as much noise as possible (shout at the top of your lungs) and run in zigzags.  However if you notice a crocodile while you are swimming you should not make any sound or ripple as this will only attract them.  You should instead try and swim backwards as silently as you can.

4/ Jelly fish bite: Go back into the water

Peeing on a jelly fish bite won’t help to soothe the pain if anything it will just make it worse!  Instead you use the water that you have on hand, the sea if course (or any other salted water)!  Don’t use freshwater as this will only worsen the situation.  You can remove any of the tentacles with an eyebrow plucker.

5/ An elephant charge:Find a natural barrier

Elephant are generally harmless except when they are provoked or if you have put yourself between a mother and their child.  Their immense size means that if they are angry they can do a lot of damage…  If you notice that the elephant’s trunk is bent and that it has lowered its ears backwards then you can be sue that it has decide to charge and trample you.  In this instance you should not run but instead try and find a natural barrier on the ground either a rock or a tree.

6/ Lion attack: Remain eye contact make lots of noise

If you have the misfortune of finding yourself face to face with a lion you should look at it straight in the eye.  Keep eye contact and don’t turn around.  Losing visual contact can spark an animal attack.  Try to make yourself look bigger by raising your arms or shaking clothes above your head.  As well as making big movements you should speak with a loud voice and make a lot of noise which is an unusual behaviour for a prey.  No matter how much you do these movements the lion in front of you might be really hungry…

The post Never under-estimate wild animals… 12 techniques to know in case of attack appeared first on Thewonderlist.

The Gemini Project was the second space programme launched in the United States after the Mercury missions.  This ambitious programme aimed to improve the space flight techniques and achieve the goals that were unsuccessful in the first Mercury missions like extravehichular space walks, orbital maneuvers and weightlessness and gravity studies.

Between 1963 and 1966, the 10 Gemini Missions managed to carry out many advances into space travel that prepared for the Apollo missions.  Many NASA astronauts took spectacular photographs of Earth as seen from space during these missions.  Here is a selection of some on the best photographs taken from space during the Gemini missions that will take your breath away.

1/ Earth Observations, Gemini IV, 1965

This magnificent photograph of the Florida Strait was taken during the Gemini IV Mission in June 4 1965.  The team on board were carrying out scientific experiments including taking photographs of the weather and the Earth’s surface.

2/ Artificial gravitation experiment, Gemini XI, 1966

On the 14 September, a target vehicle was attached to Gemini XI.  Pilots Charles Conrad and Dick Gordon maneuvered the ship so that the probe remained tensee.  By pulling the lateral thrusters so as to pivot the space ship, they used centrifuge energy to generate about 0.00015 g of artificial energy.

3/ Kennedy Space Centre taken from Gemini VII, 1965

This is a photo of the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida taken from Gemini VII.  Complex 19 where Gemini VII took off can be clearly seen at the bottom of the picture.

4/ The view from Gemini XI, 1370 kilometres above Earth, 1966

The eastern side of Australian can be seen in this photo taken from Gemini XI at about 1370 km above Earth.  This was a record altitude and the highlight of a demanding 3-day mission for the crew.

5/ Ed White, The first American to try weightlessness in space, 1965

On the 3 June 1965, Ed White is the first American to leave the space ship and go into zero-gravity of space.  For about 23 minutes, he floated around the Gemini probe while still travelling 500 km!

6/ The Andes Mountains seen from Gemini VII

Waves of clouds on the slopes of the Andes cast an orange glow from the weak angle of the sun.  Astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell took this magnificent photograph during the Gemini Mission VII above the north of Bolivia.

7/ Gemini VI Satellites

On the 4 December 1964, NASA launched Gemini VII.  With this mission they managed to send their first two satellites into space.

The post Gemini Missions: 13 incredible photos of Earth taken from Space appeared first on Thewonderlist.

Every year, in the UK we eat on average 24 kg of seafood products per year which is slightly less than the European average of 25 kg per year.  British waters are a vibrant source of fish and seafood which is often exported to other European countries like France and Spain. In fact in France 70% of the total weight of fish consumed comes from foreign waters.

The fishing industry is not any better than livestock farming for the environment.  Many harmful substances are in our oceans from microplastics, estrogens, methylmercury or endocrine disruptors.  These pollutants can then make their way onto our dinner plates when we eat polluted fish. However some fish absorb these pollutants more than others… Read on to find out the most polluted fish.

Be careful what fish you eat!

Pollution doesn’t involve all fish in the same way.  Some fish are more sensitive to being contaminated than others.  There are more toxins found in the flesh of river fish than sea fish for example.  This is the case of eels and pike.  On the other hand, all fish are affected by microplastics particles, pharmaceutical products and chemicals.  So what is the solution?  You should try and choose fish that are from local fish farming areas or that are organically farmed as much as possible.  You could even try and reduce your consumption of certain types of fish.  There are other nutritional alternatives that exist.  In any case you shouldn’t over eat the fish that are listed below.  We’re not saying don’t eat fish but perhaps think about what could be lurking inside the fish that you eat! .

This list is listed in descending order, from the fish that are very polluted and should be avoided and those that can be eaten in moderation (from number 8 starting with salmon).  These fish can be contaminated with PCB, Mercury and Pesticides. 

1/ Shark

Other than the fact that sharks ingest a lot of human rubbish, sharks are also an animal to protect.  Don’t eat shark as it won’t be great on your palette or good for the environment.

2/ Marlin

Studies have revealed that marlin as well as tuna and swordfish have endocrine disruptors in their flesh.  This harmful substance is known for not being good for your health.  It can lead to diabetes, neurological troubles, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

3/ Swordfish

Like Marlin, this fish contains endocrine disruptors.  It is also being over fished which is not good for the continued survival of this fish.  For that alone, it is a good idea to stop buying swordfish to eat for dinner.

4/ Lamprey

Lamprey is another fish to avoid as it is unfortunately not immune to lead, cadmium and mercury.

5/ Pike

Pike is very sensitive to human pollution.  In fact bigger fish or those that are predators like sharks have a greater risk of mercury concentrations.

The post The 10 most polluted fish in the world appeared first on Thewonderlist.

Humans have always wanted to represent their world.  Today there are many ways to map the world.  Some are very useful and still being used today to give us a perspective of our world.  While some cartographers try to respect reality, others over estimate real distances and surface areas.  Here is a selection of 11 world maps over the years so you can see for yourself.

1/ Mercator projection – 1569

The Mercator projection is the most used map of the world.  It is the type of map that you are shown at school.  It makes the northern hemisphere look larger than in reality.  The Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator created this map.  Thanks to his marine precision this map is commonly distributed around the world.  That being said, the the map deforms some distances by a growing distortion in which the equator stretches towards the poles (equal surfaces between Africa and Greenland.)

2/ Peters projection- 1855

This is this most realistic projection.  In reality Africa is much bigger than what appears on the Mercator projection.

3/ Mollweide/Babinet projection – 1805/1857

The Babinet or Mollweide projection represents an elliptic and almost cylindrical map.  This map keeps the surfaces and the angles.  It is used to produce globes on small surfaces.  This map was presented by Carl Brandon Mollweide as an alternative to the Mercator projection.  The Frenchman Jacques Babinet then popularised the use of this map.

4/ Van Der Grinten projection – 1904

The Van Der Grinten projection is a map of the world that is neither equal nor consistent.  In contrast to perspective projections, it is created in a geometric and arbitrary manner.  Van der Griten projects the entire Earth in a circle by conserving the Mercator projections in the most part and by reducing its distortion.  These are the polar regions which are greatly distorted.

5/ Gauss-Krüger projection – 1822

Also known as Universal Transverse Mercator Projection, this is a cylindrical world map that is consistent with the Earth’s surface. The cylinder’s axis crosses the axis of the poles perpendicularly. The polar zones are not theoretically covered by this mapping, although the cylinder is tangent to the poles.

6/ Ecker VI projection – 1906

The Eckert IV projection represents the world in a pseudo-cylindrical way and of equal surface. This map of the world was created by Max Eckert in 1906. The length of the polar line is half the line of the equator, and that of the longitude is half elliptical.

The post World Maps: 11 different projections to represent Earth appeared first on Thewonderlist.

None of us have the same way of working nor the same rules in the work place.  Some people always play by the book while others know how to work the system.  Sometimes professional differences can seem weird in the eyes of others but normal in other countries.

1/ In Germany you could be threatened with warnings of being fired if you eat at your desk

The strong smells of the various types of food and sound of chewing does not help the concentration of employees.  At least this is what the majority of German companies believe.  They can even threaten their employees with firing warnings if they don’t follow these food rules…  You’d be better to exit the office space if you want to eat your ham and cheese sandwich!

2/ In China a fold down bed is available for everyone under their workstation

If you have to work in front of a computer, employees in China are given a fold down bed under their desk or in a place nearby.  Taking a nap is an essential part of the Chinese work day and in general day to day life.  However employees tend to eat really quickly so they have time to catch a cat nap.  Not a bad idea in the end!

3/ In Japan sleeping at your desk is considered highly by employers

In Japan if you are slumped in front of your computer it is a sign that you have worked really hard!  In Britain, this sort of behaviour would make you look lazy or not very hard working… It is funny, the workplace differences around the work!

4/ Every month in the Netherlands employees meet for drinks with colleagues paid for by their company

Resting and relaxing are values that are highly considered by Dutch employers.  This is why every month an afterwork gathering is organised by the employer so that you can get to know your colleagues in a more relaxed environment. Some companies even give their employees a two week holiday bonus depending on how many hours they have worked which is calculated through a computer programme.

5/ Once per year on World Health Day, Israeli employers must offer massages to their employees

In Britain we might not have heard of World Health Day.  However in Israel it is taken seriously.  Bosses rent out spas so as to offer their employees massages and other care treatments.  This would be a great health law to be adopted in Britain!

The post Workplace differences: 10 culturally different ways to work around the world appeared first on Thewonderlist.

There is no need to hunt for an editing programme to look at landscapes upside down. Puddles of water can do this for you! Just like a mirror, water can reflect stunning images of natural or city landscapes. Some cities like Bordeaux have especially installed water features like the L’Miroir d’Eau to reflect the city’s beautiful architecture. If it is a calm day the landscape inside the mirror of water appears to go on forever…

1/ Perfectly aligned trees

The aligned trees become a piece of artwork in the ripple free water! Doesn’t it look slightly mysterious?

2/ Seeing double

Will the scooter’s shadow, or I should really say reflection, go faster than the original?

3/ Cloud perfection

Every atmospheric cloud has been replicated to perfection in this stunning reflection.

4/ A bridge to infinity

Where does the bridge start and where does it finish? A water mirror with dazzling perfection!

5/ Angel’s leap

This bridge looks like it is the best place to take a “which way is up” photograph!

6/ The tree of life

This tree looks like it’s roots come from the watery depths.

7/Translucent water

The river is so translucent that the water’s reflection gives an otherworldly appearance!

The post Mirror images: 17 incredible water reflections appeared first on Thewonderlist.